SO GOOD MOMS' NIGHT: WHAT TO WEAR

Confession: I've been taking a lot of "selfies" lately. Almost 98% of these selfies are just for me... a chance to see what I look like in my outfit... in my camera. (Cray cray, I know). The other 2% of my photos are texted to my fashion crush and style guru Robin Saperstein. Upon receiving my texts, Robin kindly indulges me with a "Yay," "NO," or "It's not my favorite," (which is code for, "you need my help.")  Well, in an effort to feel so good, Eden and I decided we'd shop her closet to find the cutest outfits for our Moms' Night for the Project Runway finale where we're serving up Yoplait Frozen Yogurt. This soooo beats taking my own photo and sucking it in for the camera. Check it out!

SPRING TRAINING... MINUS THE TRAINING.

Ah, it's March and that means Spring is in the air... Actually, here in Los Angeles, Spring was in the air in December and pretty much all through January...  and I'm pretty sure I spotted Summer one weekend in February.... So forget the air part. It's just March. And that means a lot of things...

For starters, for the past couple of years, every March I seem to make it my mission to cleanse. I want to clean house. To clean body. To clean mind. Without fail though, having just spent the two months prior to March making excuses, mentally, as to why postponing all my "cleansing" resolutions is probably better in the long run, the LONG RUN actually catches up with me and I find myself high tailing it into "time to get your sh*t together" mode come March 1st.

So here we are. And hey, so far, so good.

Here's the current state of affairs:

1. Body

I did actually cleanse. Kind of. 

Thanks to an extremely popular juice company that offers individual juices, or 3 or 5 day kits, I signed up for a 5 day cleanse. By the end of day two though, I must admit, I was beyond ravenous and couldn't stop thinking about hummus. Go figure, hummus, of all things. Not one to talk myself off ledges, I caved in and cut up a cucumber (how bad can a cucumber be), and dipped it (okay, COVERED IT) in hummus. Craving satisfied.... Next day, however, I had to be on set for a project I was working on with Lifetime Moms and realized I had only taken two juices (out of 6) with me for an entire day. One of the models on set suggested I just drink lemon and hot water for the rest of the day and/or see if the caterer could just blend my food... so it would be kind of like juice/fluids. Um.... I'm gonna let you sit with that one and give you the opportunity to imagine how much that did NOT happen and how much I was seen grazing at the craft services table for the rest of the day.

2. Mind

It turns out, "poop talk" can help with literacy.

A month or two ago, I was in sort of a disciplinary standoff situation with Jonah. He was constantly silly, constantly using bathroom language, and even talking back. I had to figure out a way to get back to the consequence basics and figure out what I could take away that was his Kryptonite. (Turns out, not much phases him).

However, one day, I got a report from his teacher that he had been talking back. Apparently, he remarked that what they were going to be doing was "stupid." I died. Read the whole story here. 

Things have calmed down since then and his behavior has shaped up. Not sure if it's my new-found resolve, or a miraculous maturity development for him,  OR the fact that he had been begging to get hot lunches at school and I told him that if I get a week straight of a perfect report, I'd let him get it. So... The good news: We're in the 2nd week of hot lunch land and therefore, mornings are now a breeze for me. The bad news: They serve f**king ice cream. I'm telling myself the organic part makes it better. But I digress...

He was recently given a few books from the Captain Underpants series and when I first read one to him, and he nearly choked laughing so hard, I thought.... Hmm. Maybe not the right book for a kid that has a hard time holding back the fart, poop, pee talk. At dinner. 

But... last night, he begged me to do a mad libs type section of one of the books and I thought of an idea. 1) If he takes this silly talk outside of this dedicated silly talk time, he loses UNO (our favorite family activity), electronics, TV, and all of these books. At the same time. For one week. 2) He needs to sound out the words and try to read to ME.

Turns out POOP is a wonderful word to teach early language development and reading skills. He nailed it.

3.  House

I stopped caring about having an organized closet.  I blame this on the long episodes of Downton Abbey. There's more important things to focus on...

It's hard to believe that exactly 2 years ago, I met Robin Saperstein of High Heel in a Haystack, she helped me with a Wardrobe Overhaul, then sent me on my way with a ton of outfit options (from my own closet!)  Since then, I've updated my wardrobe cautiously and done my best to keep my closet tidy. But hey, life gets busy and Matthew Crowley and Lady Mary get married and the whole thing goes to poop. (See #2). So, it was time to call on my girl and have her come over and remind me why certain jeans should be left in 2011.

In about 3.5 hours, I had a completely new and organized closet, and could see what I was workin' with. (Before and after pic above).  According to Robin, I'm actually all set for Spring ... AND we even shopped my closet and reinvented some clothing. Why say goodbye to my very first and favorite JBrand jeans with the big gaping holes in the knees, which I've already had patched to create a semi distressed look, when I can have them repatched and destressed AGAIN?! Additionally, Robin recommended I take a cute purple dress from JCrew and have the it shortened, and the trim brought up to give it a fresh and current look. Not bad for a total of $36 bucks right? ("Before" pics taken at the Tailor's. Dress pinned. Forgive the "selfies.").

All in all, Spring is off to a good start. I'm heading to Seattle this weekend with P on behalf of the 2 Days in Seattle Campaign (SO excited) and next week, the story featuring that mysterious trip I took in November will be featured in Ladies Home Journal. Did I mention Tina Fey is on the cover? Feeling pretty lucky right now. Forget New Year's resolutions. I love March.

MY TRIP TO THE KOREAN MIKVEH

A couple of weeks ago, I experienced a Spa Night like no other.... In need of a night of relaxation and quiet time, I decided I'd check out a popular Korean spa here in town. Many of my friends have been raaaaaaving about it forever... "You have to try the scrub! Get the scrub! You'll looooove the scrub!"

According to the menu, my "aged skin cells" would be "sloughed away using a traditional Korean technique." Considering that I'm gonna be 40... someday... (she says a la Sally Albright), I had to jump at this $25 opportunity. Let's shed some mother effin old skin, people. I'm in. AND, while we're at it, I thought, let's take it a step further and splurge on a $40 mini massage replete with an oil and honey rubdown,  a cucumber mask and milky body rinse. Done and done.

Excited for my night of bliss, I invited my boyfriend's sister KR to join.... 

With children bed and accounted for, we headed out to the other side of town... Upon entrance, I think both of us were in shock to see a spa menu entirely in Korean, but on the other side of the lobby, a full display of Bumble & Bumble products. Any place that believes in the power of DeFrizz and Brilliantine is all right with me.  I was ready to get my scrub on. 

Look, full disclosure, I knew it wasn't going to be Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, but I guess I was wasn't completely prepared for what I was about to experience....

We put our stuff into the lockers, get into our robe, we carry our towels (which, oh, were maybe a little bit bigger than a wash cloth) and head into the spa room.... And there it was....

Or shall, I say... There they were. 

Vaginas. Everywhere. Like every.where.

Let me back up: I am hardly modest. I am not the girl to cover up in a dressing room when the store clerk, or anyone for that matter walks in and I'm hardly the girl at the spa to walk in to a sauna with a bathing suit on. BUT, I was not expecting 1) that the treatment tables were in the middle of the sauna room, thereby exposing body parts of the woman amidst treatment and 2) I wasn't expecting that the massage therapists, if you will, would be wearing a bra and underwear. Yes. You heard me. A bra and underwear. 

Now for those of you that might have gotten here by accident (thanks to the usage of some very graphic words), let me direct you elsewhere... because what I saw was hardly sexy or kinky. It was just different. And I knew as soon as I was directed to a table, told forcefully to lay down and then basically drenched with a bucket of water (which might I add, did feel oddly wonderful) that this wasn't going to be the "lovely" white robe, lavender smelling, quiet room waiting, spa experience that I was used to.

For the next hour, a middle aged Korean woman scrubbed the bejesus out of my skin from head to toe, and everything in between. No. For reals. I'm not gonna lie: It wasn't pleasant. It kinda hurt. After the scrub came my "mini massage." The same woman used what I think was oil and honey as the lubricant and began her work. Let's just say that with each and every movement, I was wondering what I had done to piss her off. Why is she so mad at my hair??? 

At this point, I knew I wasn't going to be getting that relaxing, doze-off, wake up drooling kind of massage, but I went with it. I couldn't remember if this was something I learned in yoga or in acting school (that NYU Tisch School of Arts clearly paid off), but with each and every shove (because that's what it felt like), I set an intention. She jabs at my neck: That's for stress. She bangs on my head (no really, she kind of punched me in the forehead): That's for worrying.  She pushed on my belly: That's for over indulging....

It became clear: I was at a Korean Mikveh. I needed to this monthly!

Essentially, with each jarring motion and touch, I released and let go of something. I was cleansing. Or at least I told myself that's what I was doing.

At the end of the assault, er massage, she slathered me with warm milk and then sent me to the showers. When I came out, I'm telling you, my skin was GLOWING. Soft and smooth would be an understatement- I was silky. I looked in the mirror expecting to be red, raised and blotchy from the scrub and the abuse that seemed to follow. But instead, I looked FRESH. I looked like how I DREAM of looking without makeup. 

Post scrub/ beat down, we spent several minutes relaxing in the heated Himalayan salt room (I think thats what it was) and then laying down on a blanket on a warmed jade floor....

Next thing I knew, it was 10pm and we were being kicked out… and I didn't want to leave. I was soooooo relaxed. 

Is this like Stockholm Syndrome???

I'm in.

MIRRORS MEAN NOTHING ANYMORE

I don't know when it happened but these days, I cannot look into a mirror to see what I look like. It's like I see the reflection, but I don't really see it.... So what do I do? I take a picture. (Before you really start to call me ca-razy, know that I only do this when I'm trying to decide on an outfit for something really important.... As if that makes any sense or is any better). do actually like my body (most days) and feel good about myself (a lot). So I'm not sure this is about some deep seeded disorder or insecurity.... I'm wondering if digital technology is to blame and everything visual is now computerized that maybe real life is blurry now too...? Who knows. Anyway, I wrote a post on Lifetimemoms.com about this.... I think it's something a lot of women can relate to. If not, then you can just enjoy and laugh at some of the examples below which exemplify said issue.

Anyone else do the same thing?

Oh... and do you like these dresses?? ;-)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: 'TIS THE SEASON

Goodbye lovely smelly lotions and perfumes...

Hello, summer skin....

WORD-ONLY WEDNESDAY: EYE TWITCH

For three days straight, my LEFT EYE has been twitching. Though my instinct is to spiral into a state of hypochondria and declare the worst, I know better.... for this twitch, this incessant, annoying, want-to-punch-my-own-eye-out feeling is NOT a first for me. In fact, last year, I'm pretty sure I visited an internist, an ENT, an allergist, and an optometrist (oh, and for shits and giggles I suppose I should mention the neurologist too) to rule out "the worst...."

Well, my friends. Thanks to the intra-web, I don't need to visit these doctors again. Every possible reason for this annoying eye twitch has been listed below..... For twenty cents, I'll let you figure out which (every single) one I have... Wink, wink. (With the right eye of course). ;-)

Why Does My Eye Twitch?

Stress: While we're all under stress at times, our bodies react in different ways. Eye twitching can be one sign of stress, especially when it is related to vision problems such as eye strain(see below). Reducing the cause of the stress can help make the twitching stop.

Tiredness: A lack of sleep, whether because of stress or some other reason, can trigger eyelid spasms. Catching up on your sleep can help.

Eyestrain: Vision-related stress can occur if, for instance, you need glasses or a change of glasses. Your eyes may be working too hard, triggering eyelid twitching. Computer eye strain from computer use is also a very common cause of vision-related stress.

If your eyelid twitching is persistent and very annoying (like the problem experienced by my patient's wife), you should have an eye exam, because you may need vision correction. If you spend a lot of time on the computer, you also should consider talking to your eye doctor about special computer eyeglasses.

Caffeine and alcohol: Many experts believe that too much caffeine and/or alcohol can trigger eye twitches. If your caffeine (coffee, tea, soda pop, etc.) and/or alcohol intake has increased, cutting back is worth a try.

Nutritional imbalances: Some reports indicate a lack of certain nutritional substances, such as magnesium, can trigger eyelid spasms. Although these reports lack scientific evidence, I can't rule this out as a possible cause of eyelid twitching. If you suspect a nutritional deficiency may be affecting you, however, I suggest talking this over with your family doctor for expert advice rather than randomly buying over-the-counter nutritional products.

Dry eyes: More than half the older population experiencesdry eyes, due to aging. Dry eyes also are very common for people who use computers, take certain medications (antihistamines, antidepressants, etc.), wear contact lenses and consume caffeine and/or alcohol. If you are tired and under stress, you also may develop dry eye. It's best to see your eye doctor for a dry eye evaluation, because many treatments are now available.

Allergies: People with eye allergies can have itching, swelling and watery eyes. When eyes are rubbed, this releases histamine into the lid tissues and the tears. This is significant, because some evidence indicates that histamine can cause eyelid twitching.

A NEW, OLD ME - PART 1

The day Robin Saperstein of High Heel in a Haystack contacted me about doing a Fashion Makeover, I was convinced we were having a kharmic, psychic fashion connection. Here I was, having just shot a video on how Appearances matter when it comes to Manners and how my American Apparel pullover and Lululemon yoga pants could take my son to preschool on their own if need be-- and an LA based, celebrity stylist and former designer contacts me about working together...?! Well, to quote Lady Bananas: I. DIE.

The deal was Robin was going to come over and give me a Wardrobe Overhaul. Together, we would examine my wardrobe from top to bottom. We would remove pieces that no longer worked, and discover how I can wear existing items in new ways. Based on my lifestyle and individual needs, we'd discuss what items I'd need to purchase to complete my wardrobe. After that (4 hour session!) we'd pick a day to go shopping (2 hours!). Talk about getting off on the right "heel!"

Okay, so Robin and I talk. What I'll need: 1) To leave my closet the way it is. Clothes hanging on wire hangers, stained shirts in drawers inside out (ie. as is), jewelry everywhere, shoes everywhere. 2) NEW hangers. Robin suggested I purchase the Real Simple Slimline Hangers- they hold even the silkiest of tops and look fabulous in a closet. (I ordered the white). She also suggested I have trash bags standing by so that I could bag old stuff to donate or sell. 3) Wear a Nude bra (and charming underwear - I added this), as we will try EVERYTHING on. DONE.

So last week, Robin showed up and honestly, it kind of was love at first site. Of course her style was ADORE but she also came with a wardrobe rolling rack which would be used to organize and determine what stays, goes, and needs some serious consideration. She meant business!

Joining us, was my dear friend Rebecca Orlov of Loving Living Small, who was covering the Overhaul from the design perspective-- Obviously, an overhaul means brand new closet, new space, new style and new inspiration! The minute we started, I could feel the new, old me dying to come out!!!

And now... The overhaul.... OY. Where do I begin. We started with my drawers and with the exception of my underwear and bras, went through everything and determined what could get tossed and what would stay. As you can imagine, there were many a "house pant" that got bagged....

Speaking of pants... UM. Let's take a moment to tip my 40 to a slew of jeans that have seen it all. From my first pair of 7 for All Mankind Jeans...

Yah, apparently the no-pocket thing was cool 9 years ago....

....To my first (and only) pair of True Religion Jeans...

Ladies, when pockets are pulling, your hips look large and in charge.

....To a pair of white jeans that still have the tags on it....

Two words: Camel T- (You get the Picture).

...To my beloved Rock N Republic Jeans, that I could have SWORN would be a keep...

At this point, I prayed to God to wire me cash.

I also said goodbye to Paige Jeans, James Jeans, oh, and a barely worn pair of Hudsons.... But you know what, this was the easiest break up I ever had.

Why: Robin. I trusted her. I trusted the process. While there were many things that got an automatic "Take it off" or "NO," Robin carefully examined me in my clothes and explained why it wasn't working and how we could move forward or revamp a look.

Obviously, it was my call to keep the things that I loved or wear all the time. Like this hoodie (Right), which wasn't exactly cheap. Personally, I think it's fine. Robin said the print is too young for me. Rebecca said it was very Real Housewives of Orange County (Yah, so?). Hard to believe, but I'm pretty sure that was the only thing I kept despite their feedback.

In fact, there were many awesome discoveries along the way... For example, when I threw on an Old Navy long sleeve cotton dress BACKWARDS (that I would have bet $1000 bucks on that she would vomit over), she stopped me-- "Leave it backwards for a sec....," Robin said. One pair of black t-strap sandals and cute jewelry (MY cute jewelry) later- I had a total look!

By turning the dress backwards, we made a darling boat neck line with a scoop in the back. The length is short, but my legs, I think, (with a good self tanner) can handle it. Even better, I don't have to suck in for this. (Speaking of sucking in, the first thing I purchased post overhaul was a yummy tummie tank. More on this later).

In addition to my clothes, we tackled my shoes... OY. My shoes. It wasn't too terribly difficult to bag most of them, and I appreciate her letting me keep my cowboy boots circa 2001. (You never know when you might need to put together a little cowgirl outfit... Right?) Going through shoes was pretty painless- though there was one pair I couldn't part with...ones that I wore to my 10 year high school reunion.... That night, I wore an Express, plain black wrap dress (that I already had), but invested in these fab tweed and suede Gunmetal heels. At about $400, I considered them an investment and statement... Shoes that would make heads turn... I'm not sure that anyone looked or cared, but I felt fabulous that night.... 7 years later, the tweed is tearing and the suede is scuffed, but I just can't say goodbye... Those are a keep.

Four hours may sound like a lot of time, but let me tell you. We could have gone on for 4 MORE hours! My closets looked amazing (we still have to tackle my jewelry, belts, scarves, and purse collection-- Oh, when it comes to style, Robin leaves no accessory unturned!) The next step: SHOPPING. We put together one of two outfits, like the Old Navy tee, based on what I had in my wardrobe already, but now we need fill in the holes. (This post was written before our shopping excursion. Stay tuned for Part 2!)

I seriously cannot say enough wonderful things about Robin and this experience. First of all, how AWESOME to get the chance to work with someone who was recently mentioned on Ryan Seacrest morning show, or styles celebrities like Denise Richards, and has been a guest stylist for Zap2it.com giving her best and worst dressed for the 2011 Oscars! Secondly, as a woman who loves fashion but is so overwhelmed in life, I needed this!!! I want to feel good about myself ALL the time- not just when I have a babysitter and get to shower. This overhaul helped me get centered in a way that I haven't felt in a long time and discover things about myself and body that I wasn't aware of... Like the fact that everything I own is perfect for a day at the beach. Um. Yeah.

AND NOW WE SHOP.

Join me at the Lucky Shops LA event this week to shop 'til we drop! Use promo code "PERFECT" for 10% off on tickets!

**Stay tuned for Part 2 and 3 when I share details about what we bought, the looks we put together, and my newly organized and gorgeous closet!**

NATIONAL LIKE YOURSELF DAY

When's the last time you looked in the mirror, and saw those dark circles under your eyes as a status symbol-- a beautiful indication of the hours you put into your family and life, instead of a sign of exhaustion and stress? Or when's the last time you looked down at your breasts (literally DOWN at your breasts, as they now fall below the equator) and considered their (dis)placement as a rite of passage, instead of "the shitty thing about breastfeeding?" OR when's the last time you looked at your ass in your not skinny jeans but alllmost 2 sizes CLOSER to the skinny jeans, and thought it looked perfectly fine...instead of a fat blob of once hot goodness?

Though charming, delightful, and entirely inspirational, let's be honest: those love yourself/love your body/ Dove campaign moments are few and far between for most of us. Amidst a divorce, a relationship post divorce, a house foreclosing, a career I wish would explode and a 3-year old who pretty much does explode when I wish he wouldn't--- I spend a lot of time in "woe is me" land. But it occurred to me yesterday, while on the treadmill (for the first time in god knows how long), that I'm not so bad. All things considered, I'm pretty goddamn spectacular. Yep, I said it.... And then I said it again, and again and again... And it got me thinking.... What if for one day, I just LIKED MYSELF. And I'm not even talking about the real "it's the inside that matters" stuff like personality, and generosity and intelligence, blah blah blah. I'm talking strictly superficial. HOW I LOOK. What if for one day, I shouted from the roof tops the things that I seriously, SERIOUSLY like about myself. The things that I can SEE in a mirror that I can always feel good about no matter what. The things that will be there with or without a promotion, with or without a significant other to cuddle with, with or without a best mommy of the year award...

Like my nose... I love my nose.

My ankles... I love my ankles.

My eyebrows... With a little help, I love my eyebrows.

Now it's your turn. It's NATIONAL LIKE YOURSELF DAY and I'm challenging YOU to like yourself today too. Choose three things that you love about yourself physically. Share them in the comments here and/or on your own blog. Be sure to leave a link and link back to me too. Tweet it, facebook it, share it with your community and spread the like yourself love....

Who's in?